Wednesday, June 03, 2009

The Sad Fate Of SoFoBoMo

It's been almost a year and a half since I retired and in that time I have watched my productivity slowly wane. Paradoxically as my free time increases, the less motivation I have to fill it with activities.I should have seen this coming. I've always consider myself lazy. Procrastination is a constant companion, riding my shoulder, whispering in my ear: "Do you really have to do it now?" The little voice killed my 100 Push-Up attempt - twice. It kept me off the little snow that we had while my snow shoes rested in the basement unused. It has kept me home while I should have been on the trail. It has cut my bicycle riding by at least a factor of five. It has effectively erased Tai Chi from my memory. It has reduced the number of geocaches found over the last 12 months to a paltry fourteen. When I worked, deadlines were my friend. Self-imposed deadlines, unfortunately, are easily self-deferred.The latest victim of my swelling sloth is SoFoBoMo. Thirty days ago I started taking pictures and laying out pages for my solo photo book about the colors of Omaha. A week ago I gave in to the creeping lethargy enveloping my brain. The quality of the pictures, or should I say the lack of quality, introduced doubt and sapped enthusiasm. The sense of relief I felt after finally throwing in the towel left me disappointment. I did take a few good pictures that can be found here.So, what has filled my wide open schedule? I wish it were something like reading or playing with Homer but the sad truth is, the culprits or, more correctly, the excuses are the tubes, namely the intertubes and the boob tube. They could be referred to as "the tubes that suck the life out of me" but that would be unfair to them - Both have O.F.F. buttons that I too frequently ignore.Further analysis uncovers an even more depressing fact. I am more likely to kill something that is for my own pleasure or benefit than something chore related. Heck, I have a strict chore schedule that I have yet to fail to complete. I rarely postpone these tasks, moving them only when the elements or other outside forces beyond my control get in the way of my meticulous To-Do list. When it comes to my own pleasure, all I need is a drop of a moisture, a slight breeze, a random cloud, or an imagined ache or pain to throw me off my path.I usually end these rants with promises to do better but, since my record is so poor, I won't this time. Time to start my Wednesday morning chores.

I know what you mean. This kind of ennui often attacks me when I am home by myself for long periods. I have a list of things to do or a selection of things I am actually interested in, but I slowly begin to ignore them.

My experience has been that the only way to assault this problem is by spending more time being social. Finding a buddy to exercise with can be difficult, but rewarding once the relationship has been established.

This just might be a "slump" and you'll get back in the groove soon. Consider yourself very blessed that you have this time to be lazy. But too much lazy can drive you crazy so get out there and dust off your bike, camera and hiking shoes!